Chhiring Dorje Sherpa was just sixteen years old when he climbed Mt. Everest for the first time. He had scaled the height of 8100 mtrs during his first endevour. Sherpa has scaled the Mt. Everest all together 16 times now. “It was for my professional purpose that I climbed the Mountains at the early stage; not for fame” he recalls. The snow capped high mountains are passion for many, but for him it was more a way to earn his livelihood. Once late leader Madan Bhandari had asked him as how a small boy like him could climb the lofty mountains. He had just smiled in return not knowing what to tell. He hails from Gaurishankar remote municipality in Dolakha district. His maternal uncle Sonam Chhiring Sherpa had helped him getting the job at Tham Sherku. But the tragedy is that in 1993, his uncle also passed away along with the legend mountaineer Pasang Lhamu Sherpa. When asked whether he gets tired or scared doing so, he simply says that is his profession.

Things have changed much. Now he owns his own trekking agency. His wife is a house wife and is a father of two lovely daughters, studying at school level. He always encourages them to work hard, as his childhood days were full of struggles. When asked what his profession would be if not a climber, his answer is ‘farmer’.

So far he has proudly led many expeditions and all were safe. He announces 48 successful expeditions so far. But in Nepal’s mountaineering history there marked a black day in 2014, when 16 climbing Sherpas in an avalanche. He had known two three of them very closely. “The State should think more seriously for Sherpa Community. The victim families should get proper compensation. Climbers should be recognized as Nation’s jewel,” he stresses. There is no proper record about climbers. According to him the Government should also give certificate after each successful scaling. “Our’s is a small climber’s family of Sherpa community, consisting of around 450 people. I wish for everybody’s safety,” he concludes.